I am a mother, daughter, sister and partner. I’m a music lover and kayaker. I’m a forest dweller with a love for the lands, waters and all my relatives. I love to laugh. I live now on the beautiful lands covered by the Williams Treaties of 1923, near Bracebridge. I am a white settler, whose Scottish and Irish ancestors settled on the stolen lands of the Haldimand Tract near Guelph in the 1840’s.

I have worked as a social worker and therapist for 30+ years and have over 15 years’ experience in clinical consultation within the gender-based violence trauma field. I use a feminist lens, but understandings of colonial violence have created a deeper analysis for me in recent years. I now seek to use Indigenous values (7 Grandfather Teachings) in all of my work: humility, honesty, truth, respect, courage, wisdom and love. I am walking a decolonization path in my life and in our work at Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services where I am the Executive Director.

Earlier in my life, I worked as a child and family therapist in children’s mental health, as a clinician in the Ontario Office of the Children’s Lawyer, as a child protection worker in child welfare, and as an instructor in family and gender studies at Nipissing University.

The pictures on the website are mine. Thanks to Erin Hassard for web design.